Baton having selectively illuminated section



gulle 24, 1952 J. w. PETERS BATON HAVING SELECTIVELY ILLUMINATED SECTION Filed June 25, 1948 fatented `unc 24, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BATON HAVING SELECTIVELY l ILLUMINATED SECTION John W. Peters, Cincinnati, Ohio Application June z5, 194s, serial No.`35,231

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to an illuminated baton, Wand, or the like.

-An object of the invention is to provide a baton or the like with illuminating means capable of transposition within the baton to produce various desirable lighting effects.

Another object is to provide an illuminated device of the Character stated which utilizes lighting means in unitary or cartridge-like form, to facilitate and expedite replacements Aat low cost, and with little effort requiring no mechanical skill.

A further object is to provide an illuminated baton which is durable, relatively inexpensive. safe to use, and simple in construction and operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide an illuminated baton depending for its selective lighting eifects upon standard and readily available flash-light units which are simple and inexpensive.

Another object is to enhance the brilliancy of lighting in an illuminated baton.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means described herein and illustrated upon the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the improved baton incorporating the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a lighting unit used in the baton.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a head or endpiece for the baton.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental cross-sectional View of one end of the baton shaft, showing the lighting units arranged for illuminating the head only lof the baton, the head being removed in this view.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, on an enlarged scale, showing disposition of the lighting units for illuminating both the head and the translucent shaft, the head being removed.

With reference to the accompanying drawing, the baton of this invention comprises generally an elongate straight shaft 8 having fixed to its opposite ends 9 and IIJ the hollow sleeves I2, each of which sleeves contains a pair of lighting units I3, one of which is illustrated by Fig. 2. At the free ends I4 of the sleeves are applied suitable end pieces for closing or capping the ends of the sleeves, one of which end pieces may be in the form of a sphere or knob I5, whereas the other may be in the form of an elongate plug or extension I5. The parts 8. I5 and I6 may be formed of a glass-like substance.r for example translucent plastic composition capable of trans- (Cl. 24o-6.42)

mitting light. As shown, these translucent parts are of solid translucent plastic material, and each has its outer surface ground, pitted, or otherwise roughened for the purpose of refracting light rays projected lengthwise therethrough thereby to render the parts brilliantly radiant when light rays are projected therethrough as stated. It to be understood that parts 8, I5 and I6. or any of them, might be made hollow if desired, with either the interior surface or the exterior surface thereof roughened for refracting the light rays projected into them by the lighting units I3.

The lighting units, as illustrated, are commonly procurable upon the market and are inexpensive standard items of manufacture. Each comprises an elongate casing, usually of metal, having a forward end Il which is open at I8 and houses an electric lamp I9 which preferably is protected byV the rim of the opening. At the rear end 20 of the casing is an extendingpushbutton ZI to be depressed inwardly for closing an electric switch built within the casing. The switch is of the momentary contact type, and is normally open-circuited, so that pressure axially applied to the push-button is necessary in order to close the switch and to energize the lamp I9` The casing of the lighting unit carries one or two dry cells 4I), and a spring for normally holding the push-button 2I in the outwardly extended position. Lighting units of the character above described are very common articles of manufacture, and for that reason no attempt is made herel to detail the construction thereof.

In Fig. 1 the lighting units are shown arranged to project light rays toward and into the opposite ends Sand Ill ofthe translucent shaft 8. The endmost lighting units shown in Fig. 1 have their lamps I9 directed outwardly in opposite directions, to project light rays into the translucent end pieces or heads I5 and I6 axially thereof. l It will be noted also in Fig. 1, that the push-buttons 2| of the lighting units at each end of the baton contact one another, so that by applying inward force to the endmost lighting units, all of the vpush-luittons will be depressed for closing the switches of the lighting units and energizing their respective lamps I9.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the heads I5 and I6 are to be adjustable lengthwise of the sleeves I2, for selectively applying or releasing endwise pressure upon the lighting units.. to either energize or de-energize the several lamps I9. The aforesaid adjustment may be accomplished in various fashions, for exbuttons 2| 'is relieved, allowing the push-buttons to assume their normal extended condition Y at which the lighting unit switches are opened for de-energizing the lamps.

In the case of the translucent head end of the head may be bored as indicated at 25 to provide an interior shoulder 26 adapted to contact the forward end of the adjacent lighting unit I3 and drive it toward the other lighting. unit when the head t5. is moyed tu the, right.. as by advancing it in that direction along: the exterior screw threads` 21, of sleeve |52. partially unscrewing the head t5, pressure.l upon, the lighting units is relieved-in order to perf. mit extension ot the push-:buttons 2| in the? manner previously explained.

From the foregoing. it will be understood that' the operator may effect illumination. of the batonln its several translucent parts- 8, l5.' and. ILE, by advancing the heads towardone another along' the.' screw threads 21' and 2'3 until'. the lighting units are compressed lengthwise to depress their. respective push-,buttons 2| which` energize the lamps of' the lighting, units. It desired, the i=l=:. lumihation at one end ofthe baton may be` ef'-, fected Without illuminating the' opposite? end thereof; depending upon which. one oftl'ieheadsA is manipulated for compressing the lighting units'.

Referring now to Fig. 4, it will be noted that the lighting unit I3 closestV to the translucent shaft 8 hasbeen reversed so that endwisel force. applied to the rim |21 Wouldf serve to depress the push-button 2| of the endmost lighting unit, tof energize its lamp, Without depressingl the push-button' of the irme-mnost':y unit. ThisY last mentioned push-button, as-will be: observed,t extends freely into a socket formed' in onel endl of the shaft 8 with sumcieiitclearance to! preclude actuation off the push-button; irrespective ofany force applied at |213. "Ifhus, when' a head such as 5 isl applied to the` end:` Midfithe device asillu'strated by'l'ig.v 4i, 'theoutermost lighting unit |3Y willy be advanced;y toA theright resulting' in depressing itsf pushfbutton 2l| andI energizing the lamp |19 to illuminatetlie head. The push-'button ofy the outermost'l lighting? unit; may vpress against vthe lamp; or-Y against-sonia portion of the forward end of the' innermostj lighting unit. The push-button-qftheinnermost lighting unit under circumstances illustrated? by Pig. 4, will not be depressedand' according-ly; the shaft 8 willa not be illuminated. l

lit'eferringl now to Fig. 5, the lighting unitsv l@ are arranged in accordance withvt'he disclosure of Fig. 1, for illuminating the headL |55 andthe shaft 8, whenthe head is applied to the malari'xnunr point of? advancementA along` the= threads 21of4`sleeve' |12?. It will readily'beA understood that@ theE lighting units may be reversed or air# ranged; 1n selected fashion at eimer ener @finie b'atlbn, to obtai-nvarious desirable lighting# eff` I 131th properly rearranging @ne lighting uiliits;v it is'- possible" to illurniniaite the? shalt only, if desired, or alternatively the heads or either of them may be illuminated with or without illuminating the shaft of the baton.

With furthe-r reference to Fig. 1, it may be noted that the head l5 is counterbored as at 29 to receive freely the push-button 2| of the outermost lighting unit in the event that the operator wishes to avoid illumination of the .head I 5- imilarily, the head I6 at the opposite end ofl the baton may be counterbored as at 3U, for the same purpose.

` In Fig. 3 is illustrated a modified form of head 3| ywhiclrl may simulate the head l5, ex-

`iepliffor the fact that the head 3| may be formed 'Ity of opaque material such as soft rubber or other Y composition. If the head 3| is constructed of soft` rubber orl the like, it may be applied to the threaded end I4 of the baton without the need forli internal threads within the bore 32. The modified form of head .may be provided with a counterbore or socket; 33; similar to. that; indicated at 9 of Fig. 1 to loosely receivethe pushA button of an. endmost; light-.ine ,s shoul-w der- 3k, will serve. then as; the. vLeansizorf con: meting and driving iriwalrdly` the)l rear end 2,0.; 0f a lighting unit. causingdepression oit that pushrbutton of an. adjacent lighting unit-,which may function to illuminate. the translucent shut-t; 8. As. previously stated' herein.. the push-ibut# tons 2| may bear` againstether the onthegl forward.v end or the casing of an adiacentlight. ing unit, as suggested by the disclosure of Eig. 4. Accesstov the lighting units maybe gained. by removing the heads t5 and let', orif desired; the'l device may heV constructed in accordance; with; Fig. 5 wherein the sleeve I2 is detachablythreaded at 3.5. to an end ofthe shaft 8f, for rendering the lighting units accessible forremov-al orA replacee ment.- It is, to be understood; that the yar-idas? detachable cormecting` means at the? locations 35. 2l, 23 and 9 may be of any customary-orsaccept-i. able forni, thmthreaded; connections.' illustrated being by way otexaniple, only. In. practice, the connection made. at 5t may bef simply af pressed fit, on' one in which pins-, rivets, sliperingsa or' interttin-g llangesfmiglit he employed@ to-- men=f tion a few ofthe ordinary methods o attachment.

It may? he corisideredil desir-ableyin formingV the casings of the lighting units, to make the fori-J: ward openings i8- suilicientlysmallindianietei' to provide seats for the push-bulttoiisy adaoenft. units, thereby avoid theapplication of` any compressive tornei directly tol the lamp;r or in# some cases the forward-opening' o each-lighting uni-t might be provided! -wfi-thZ a suitable guardi fori the same purpose. It may be stated, ljiohwevei,` that lighting units are` available iin whilchl the lamps are' very duralile will? withstand a-iy ordinary' force th-ati might be alplili'ed'fthe-reto liyan adj acent` piiish;lt-uitorry evrlr'- thong-lil` the Heaton may be drdriped:E upon a hard' sufi-face or otherwise subjected tol shookv oirv mistreatment;

As was4 preiiiodsly stated hereiii, the' various? transluoentpaiit'ssuehais-8g I5` and I-B-m'ig'hthel made tubular or' liollowi rather' tha'ri solid; it desired. For.; @tarn-pie;y the: shaft a of Fig.- 5? were` made: tabulae inl form, the bore ze might'- e'ictend throughout. the' length of the shaft,` andr have# its; interiori' wallf suitably roughen'ed", pitted, cr etched-'gior refractirig'light'rays from therlamp'; |195, thereby to.: induceV maximurnlluminosity: ofrth'e' translucent shazftfl. Substantially the sameref; sultan are obtainedl by? similarly;A treating the, exft teriorsurface-z ot'- shaft. 8ly along: itsy entirerlehgthv It is to be understood that various other modications and changes in th-e structural details of the device may be made within the scope of the appended claim, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claim-ed is:

An illuminated baton "which comprises a shaft of translucent material, a pair of cylindrical sleeves each having an end fixed upon an end of the shaft 4with free ends of the sleeves extending from and in alignment Iwith the ends of the shaft, a pair of battery operated lighting units in each of the sleeves, each of said units comprising a cylindrical case disposed in the sleeve, a lamp at one end of each case, a switch button extending from the opposite end of the case, a `battery in the case between the lamp and the switch button, electrical connections from the battery to the lamp to cause illumination of the lamp when the switch button is depressed, and spring means urging the switch button to light extinguished position when released, the lighting unitso-f each pair having switch buttons in engagement so that the units are illuminated and shut off when advanced lengthwise toward and away from each other, and a pair of baton heads, each of said heads being formed of translucent material and being threadably attached to a free end of one of the sleeves and havingr a bearing surface engaging an outer unit of one of the pairs of units to advance the units of the pair toward each other Iwhen the head is turned in one direction, the units bein-g released when the head is turned in the other1 direction, whereby the shaft and the heads are illuminatable `by the units and the units may be lighted and extinguished by turning the heads of the baton, the ends of the shaft of the baton and the heads of the baton being provided with wells, the lighting units being reversible in the sleeves to dispose the switch buttons thereof in said wells, whereby at least one of the units may be maintained extinguished while other units are illuminated.

JOHN W. PETERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,162,157 Clark June 13, 1939 2,225,151 Borba Dec. 17, 1940 2,242,981 Pedersen May 20, 1941 2,245,349 Lombardi June 10, 1941 

